St John’s House Ghost Hunt – £39

A hidden treasure within the heart of the medieval town of Warwick – St John’s House. A museum that by day welcomes visitors from around the world. By night the museum transforms in character. Staff have heard disembodied voices, laughter and footsteps. Dark shadows have been witnessed wandering the various, now uninhabited rooms, when all visitors are long departed. Peculiar and illogical odours arrive and depart with no explanation. What will you encounter when entering St John’s House?

The St John’s House Ghost Hunt includes:

Costumed Ghost Tour of Warwick Town

Mediumship and Equipment workshops

Mediumship walkround – who haunts tonight?

Psychic and Ghost Hunting Equipment

Experiments including seances and glass divination

Ghost Hunting Vigils in the dark

Hot Drinks and Biscuits

Expert advice and discussion about the paranormal

Your chance to stay in a haunted museum at night!

The known history of the land on which St John’s House stands, dates back to 1154. At this time it was given to the establishment of the Hospital of St John the Baptist and founded by the 3rd Earl of Warwick, with the purpose of offering accommodation to wayfarers, pilgrims and poor within the local area. There was also a cemetery attached to the hospital. Skeletons of medieval origin have been unearthed within the roads surrounding St John’s House as well as below the St John’s Court flats adjacent.

In 1540 St John’s was granted to Anthony Stoughton by Henry VIII, having been in his majesties service. In 1563 the grant was confirmed by Queen Elizabeth I. Anthony Stoughton never resided at the property but leased it out.

It was Anthony Stoughton junior who inherited the site and commissioned the building we see today. The initials A. S. alongside the date 1626 are situated above a door lintel in the East Wing. Anthony Stoughton junior later became Member of Parliament for Warwick, although it appears he was disliked by the local community. Many of the Stoughton family members held positions of authority in the town of Warwick. The house remained in the possession of this family up until the 1780’s.

Above the porch entrance to the house the faded words ‘Education’ can be seen. A reminder of when the building was rented out from the Earl of Warwick to become a school in 1791. Known as St John’s Academy for boys or ‘Young Gentlemen’, the school offered writing, arithmetic, book-keeping, dancing, military exercise, ‘washing and mending’ to its pupils. The graffiti of supposedly mischievous boys can still be seen around the house. The house remained an educational institution becoming a school for young ladies 1828. In 1845 it once again became a school for young gentlemen and then back to a school for young ladies in 1884!

In 1915 the house became the tenancy of Mr H W Ludlow and then onto an American family who added improvements to the house. On Wednesday 2nd August 1960 the house became a museum.

The history of St John’s House is rife with intrigue and colourful residents as well as many stories of tragedy. Jane Stoughton on returning from a ball ventured into the parlour to find the fire in need of fuel. As she set about refuelling the fire her clothing set alight and she was terribly burned. She sadly died from her injuries on March 22nd 1755. Ann Stoughton is said to have died as the result of fright after a burglar threatened to kill her, holding a knife or razor to her throat. The offender fled after she screamed out ‘very violently’. Is it thought she knew the offender but she refused to disclose their name after she discovered the penalty for such a crime…hanging! Eugenia was an interesting and ‘eccentric’ family member. She would sit in an armchair refusing to go to bed to have to be shifted by force! She was the Stoughton family ‘cat lady’ with her fondness of cats, erecting a monument to the local butcher who provided the cats meat.

With such an intriguing and old history St John’s House is a perfect setting for the ghost hunter. Many accounts of strange activity have been witnessed by staff and visitors. Perhaps the sometimes eccentric Stoughton family still linger within their much loved home. Perhaps the children once schooled in the house still roam and play within the walls. Fright Nights Warwickshire invites you to join us in this highly active building.

Please note: Over 18s only – no pregnant women allowed and attendees must be reasonably fit. No accommodation provided. For more information please see our Terms and Conditions.